In only its second year of publication, the MC Voice, Montgomery College's student newspaper, earned second-place honors in its category at the recent Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) competition in Austin. Additionally, several individual awards were earned in photography and news writing.

"The Voice's second-place award is an amazing accomplishment, especially given it was the first time Montgomery College had competed," said Jim Fredricks, lead advisor for the MC Voice and journalism instructor at the college. "It just shows the extraordinary talent we have available to us at Montgomery College."

"I'm extremely proud of how hard the team worked to prepare for the contest," said Leah Moody, student editor of the MC Voice for the past two years. "We worked really hard to get recognized. We strive to make every issue of the MC Voice better than the last, so there's nowhere to go but up. Now that we know what to expect of the competition, I'm confident that we'll be named number one next year."

The MC Voice, entered in the category with collegiate newspapers publishing less than bi-weekly, was bested only by the University of Texas at Dallas.

Also receiving an individual honor at the TIPA competition was Zac Lawler, a photographer for the MC Voice, in the News Photography category.

With the original 1909 meeting at Baylor, TIPA is the oldest collegiate press association in the nation and has grown into one of the largest and most respected collegiate groups in the country.

Contests have grown from three initial competitions to contests in general magazine, radio, television, online, two divisions of yearbook, literary magazine and six divisions of newspaper, plus more than 25 on-site contests during the annual convention. TIPA also presents scholarships to students representing two-year and four-year institutions and annually recognizes a faculty Adviser of the Year.

Entries are judged by individuals, including professional media representatives, from around the country. Student and student media winners are then recognized at the organization's annual spring convention awards banquet held in Austin. At the annual spring convention, students also compete in on-site contests under deadline. For the contest, students may work from pre-developed materials, attend an activity/event or witness an activity/event. Each member institution attending the convention may enter one student in each contest. Entries are judged at the convention by individuals including professional media representatives. Student winners are then recognized at the convention awards banquet.

Montgomery College is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000 or visit http://montgomery.lonestar.edu/.

NHMCCD, among the largest and fastest growing community colleges in Texas, comprise, Cy-Fair College, Kingwood College, Montgomery College, North Harris College, Tomball College, six satellite centers, and The University Center.